Flawless love

Chapter 11: Aaliyah

                                     ⋆ ˖ ݁ 🦢 ݁ ˖ ⋆
I entered my room, cheeks flushed crimson, unable to contain the overwhelming emotions surging within me. I felt a strong urge to cry out loud, but I held back, replaying the image of his intense gaze in my mind. My heart raced uncontrollably, and a wide smile stretched across my face. I was brimming with happiness, thrilled that he had mustered the courage to approach my family for my hand. That's why I hadn't given him a definite answer last time.

Sitting on my bed, I began to jot down some notes, but my heart remained consumed by thoughts of him. Suddenly, my phone rang, displaying Abdi's name on the screen.

"Hey, Abdi," I answered, my voice filled with anticipation.

"Hey, Aaliyah," came the response, but it wasn't Abdi's voice. It was Yusuf, and I found myself momentarily speechless, unable to find the right words.

"It's okay, Aaliyah. I knew you'd be shy to face me directly, so that's why I called. And don't worry, Abdi is here as your mahram, so you're in safe hands," Yusuf reassured me, sensing my unease.

"Okay," I managed to say, my voice barely audible. I couldn't understand why my throat felt so tight.

"How are you doing?" I asked, trying to regain my composure.

"I'm doing well, Alhamdulillah. And you?" he inquired.

"Alhamdulillah, I'm doing good too," I replied, my voice still soft and tremulous.

"Can I begin the questioning? I don't want this process to drag on for days," he said, and I couldn't help but feel touched by his eagerness to get to know me better.

"Okay, go ahead," I consented, my voice growing slightly stronger.

"What qualities do you seek in a man, someone whom you envision building a future with?" he asked.

"I seek a man with strong faith, good character, a positive mindset, and a strong work ethic. Respect is essential to me, and I desire a wise man who can be a loving father, a devoted son-in-law, and a supportive brother-in-law. That's the kind of man I'm looking for," I responded.

"Good, Mashallah. I like your choices," he commended.

"And what about you?" I inquired.

"I'm looking for a woman who possesses the same qualities as my mother," he revealed.

"Wow, I can see why your mother is your role model," I remarked.

"Yes, Alhamdulillah," he acknowledged.

We continued asking each other numerous questions, discovering our likes and dislikes, sharing our dreams of how we envisioned our life together. After two hours of heartfelt conversation, we finally concluded our call.

"I'll give you my response tomorrow, Insha Allah," I informed him.

"I'll be eagerly awaiting your reply, Insha Allah," he replied.

With a contented smile on my face, I settled into bed, falling asleep with a heart brimming with joy.

I awoke 20 minutes before the Fajr prayer, offering Tahajjud and beseeching Allah for guidance and blessings on this momentous decision I was about to make. It marked the first step towards my future, and I knew I needed to embark on this journey with the power of prayer.

After a lengthy supplication and seeking forgiveness, I performed the Fajr prayer and recited my morning adhkar. Then, I proceeded to the kitchen, where I caught sight of Yusuf and Abdi preparing for their early morning run. They glanced at me, and Abdi greeted me.

"Salam alaykum, Aaliyah," he said.

"Walaykum salam, love," I replied, a warm smile gracing my lips.

"How are you guys doing?" I inquired.

"We're doing well, Alhamdulillah," Yusuf responded this time.

"I'm glad to hear that," I said.

As they left, I continued with my tasks, preparing breakfast and setting the table. When they returned, I tended to my younger siblings, ensuring they were ready for school and had eaten their meal.

Once they had finished, I called Abdi and Yusuf to join us for breakfast. As they descended the stairs, my parents were already seated, waiting. We began eating, and amidst the meal, my father turned to me, asking for my opinion on whether I wanted to marry Yusuf.

I found myself unable to answer, my gaze cast downward. How could I possibly respond to such a weighty question?

"Well, Mom, Dad, Abdi, and Yusuf, I have something to say," I finally spoke up, my voice barely above a whisper. "I do want to marry Yusuf. I'm just too shy to say it openly."

"Thank you, Aaliyah," Yusuf expressed, looking down before adding, "Uncle Abdi, Aunt, I'm incredibly grateful that you've entrusted me with your daughter. Insha Allah, I will inform my family within a week, and they will join us for the muqabalah (meeting), followed by the nikah. With your permission, I will then begin a new chapter of my life with Aaliyah."

"Thank you as well, my son. I am overjoyed that my daughter has found someone like you," my parents responded with happiness.

"I'm happy for you, my buddy. Just remember to treat my girl the way she deserves. She's my princess," Abdi affectionately remarked, embracing his friend.

My father interjected, "When should we schedule the nikah? How many days are left of your vacation?"

"I have only a week and three days left, Uncle, but I will request an additional 15 days. I will discuss it with my family, Insha Allah," Yusuf replied.

"Okay, my son. Please do so," my father agreed.

"You two can continue talking if you'd like. Feel free to go and sit over there. We're here, and it's okay," my mother suggested, understanding my shyness.

Feeling incredibly bashful, I nodded, and Yusuf and I moved a short distance away. I placed the chair next to him and took a seat.

"Okay, Aaliyah, don't be shy. You can talk," Yusuf encouraged, his gaze still averted.

"Alright, but why aren't you looking at me? We're here to discuss our future," I replied.

"I'm afraid I'll get lost in your eyes, so it's best for me to keep my eyes down," he confessed.

"Okay," I responded, my stomach fluttering with excitement.

"How many siblings do you have?" I inquired, trying to keep the conversation flowing.

"It's just me and my two sisters, Amal and Amiira," he answered.

"So, it's just you, your parents, and your two sisters," I clarified.

"Yes, that's correct. However, we have a close relationship with both my father's and mother's extended families," he explained.

"That's wonderful," I replied.

"By the way, my mother already knows about you," he revealed.

"Since when?" I asked.

"I told her about you when I was in Jakarta," he informed me.

"I see," I responded.

After a lengthy conversation, we eventually bid each other goodnight and headed to our respective rooms, exchanging salams. Before I got up, Yusuf said something that touched my heart.

"Aaliyah, thank you for choosing me to be a part of your beautiful future. I truly appreciate it, and I promise to treat you like a queen. You've shown me that if love were a person, it would be you," he expressed, causing a wide smile to spread across my face. I left him with tears of happiness glistening in my eyes.